Fluidic-electric switch and safety, arming and detonating system using same

ABSTRACT

A fluidic safety, arming and detonating system for use in a weapon-carrying missile whose power output is controlled by a fluidic-electric switch. The system&#39;&#39;s operation is based on two external environmental signatures plus two internal fluidic signatures. The two external environmental signatures, which are prerequisite to subsequent operation of the system, are provided by combustion gases during ignition of the missile and by ram air after lift-off. The two internal fluidic signatures, which are required to arm and detonate the explosive carried by the missile, are provided by the fluidic-electric switch actuated and controlled by two preset fluidic timers, each of which comprises an oscillator coupled with a binary counter. The two timers turn the fluidic-electric switch first ON, which arms the firing circuit, then OFF, which triggers the firing circuit to detonate the explosive.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,792,004

Campagnuolo 1 Feb. 19, 1974 a FLUIDIC-ELECTRIC SWITCH AND SAFETY, ARMINGAND DETONATING Primary ExaminerBenjamin A. Borchelt S M USING SAAssistant Examiner-J. V. Doramus Inventor: Carl J p g Potomac attorney,Agent, or Firm-Edward J. Kelly; Herbert [73] Assignee: The United Statesof America as [57] ABSTRACT represented y the Secretary of the A fluidicsafety, arming and detonating system for use Army, Washington, DC. in aweapon-carrying missile whose power output is [22] Filed: Sept 26 1969controlled by a fluidic-electric switch. The systems operation is basedon two external environmental sigl pp N05 862,645 natures plus twointernal fluidic signatures. The two external environmental signatures,which are 52 US. Cl 102/70 R, 102/702 G, 102/81, Prerequisite subsequentWmmi"n f the System 235/201 F8 are provided by combustion gases duringignition of 51 Int. Cl F42c /00, F42c /06 the missile and by ram airafter The [58] Field of Search 102/70 2 P 702 G 81 76 nal fluidicsignatures, which are required to arm and 102mb 5 1 detonate theexplosive carried by the missile, are provided by the fluidic-electricswitch actuated and con- {56] References Cited trolled by two pflestetfluidifdtirnttelrs, leach of whtich comprises an OSCl a or coup e W] ainary coun er. UNITED STATES PATENTS The two timers turn thefluidic-electric switch first 2,509,910 5/1950 Dike l02/70.2 P ON whicharms the firing circuit, then OFF which 3'306538 2/1967 Mccrackem"[02/8] UX tri ers the trin circuit to detonate the ex losive 2,479,5828/1949 McCaslin 102/81 gg g P 3,170,403 2/1965 Heilprin 102/70.2 G 23Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 52 54 55 56 /5s 1 STAGNATlON CHAMBER 6A 61 82I l H74 0 l I J I "(0 gogL -96 8b 1 "11 M 43 41 g g 102 f tn/l AMB1ENT"17. COUNTER 7 lo l J CO ER OSClLLATOiZ 10a FlRmG 4s CHZCU lT some FLUIDIC-ELECTRIC SWITCH AND SAFETY, ARMING AND DETONATING SYSTEM USKNGSAME RIGHTS OF GOVERNMENT The invention described herein may bemanufactured, used, and licensed by or for the United States Governmentfor governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royaltythereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an ordnance fuzingdevice and in particular to a fluidic safety and arming system utilizinga novel fluidic-electric switch. More particularly, the presentinvention utilizes pure fluid devices to arm a weapon-carrying missileat a predetermined time from the launching means, and at a laterpredetermined time to fire the explosive contained in the weapon.

It is essential in many ordnance applications to provide the missilewith a safety mechanism to preclude detonation until a certain minimumdistance from the launching site is attained. Control means must also beprovided in the missile or projectile in order to later trigger theexplosive charge carried in the missile. Prior safety and arming systemshave relied primarily upon mechanical and electronic means for armingthe missile and for detonating it at a certain time or height above thetarget. The mechanical and electronic systems commonly used for suchpurposes are subject to severe shock, vibration, pressure andtemperature extremes encountered by the missile during launch and inflight. The fluidic system of the present invention is ideally suited towithstand such severe environmental conditions because it has no movingparts and indeed utilizes environmental signatures for its actuation andoperation.

It is also apparent that the power supplies utilized in such missilesystems must also be able to withstand severe shock and vibrations. Inaddition, such power supplies must be storable over long periods of timewithout deterioration, while being activated only when needed in flight.Known chemical and mechanical power supplies often do not satisfactorilymeet the aforesaid requirements. The fluidic system of the presentinvention is made impervious to such disturbances by employing afluidic-electric switch which is essentially a fluid-controllable powersupply that converts pneumatic energy to electrical energy and isactivated only after a preset time from launching is attained. At alater preset time, the fluidic arming circuits will switch off theelectric power output which will in turn trigger the firing circuit, asmore fully explained hereinafter.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide fluidicsafety and arming means which activates a weapon-carrying missile onlyat a safe distance away from the launching area.

It is another object of the present invention to provide fluidicdetonating means for a weapon-carrying missile to operate only at apreset time after launching.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide afluidic-electric switch that transforms pneumatic energy to electricalenergy and has a switching capability that controls the electric poweroutput by means of an independent fluid source.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide means toarm and detonate a weapon-carrying missile that is insensitive to highmissile speed, shock, vibration, and environmental temperature andpressure extremes.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means to armand detonate a weapon-carrying missile that is responsive solely to twoexternal environmental signatures plus two internal fluidic signatureswhich must occur sequentially in order for the system to be activated,thus contributing an extra safety measure to the system.

A further object of the present invention is to provide to aweapon-carrying missile safety and arming means plus electric powermeans that are not subject to deterioration or wear while in storage andthat are activated only upon their use in flight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention utilizes ram airof a weapon-carrying missile and exhaust gases of the missile to providetwo fluid signals for a fluidic safety, arming and detonating systemwhose power actuation is controlled by a fluidic-electric switch. Thetwo fluid signals actuate two fluidic timers, the first of which turnsON the fluidic-electric switch which energizes a firing circuit. Thesecond of the two fluidic timers at a specified later time switches OFFthe fluidic-electric switch which in turn acts to release the energystored in the firing circuit to detonate a squib.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The specific nature of the inventionas well as other objects, aspects, uses, and advantages thereof willclearly appear from the following description and from the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the fluid-electric switch of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a safety, arming and detonatingsystem utilizing the fluidic-electric switch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a fluidic-electricswitch that transforms pneumatic energy into electrical energy and iscontrolled by an external fluid source in the following manner. Thefluidic source of power enters the switch at end 10 of tube 11. At theend of cylinder 11 opposite port 10 a cylindrical plug 12 is centrallylocated therein forming an annular orifice 14. The column of fluidentering port 10 is converted into an annular column by annular orifice14. The annular column of air from orifice 14 is directed to an opening21 through an interaction chamber 22 by means of a conduit 16 which hasaperatures 19 therein for control purposes and openings 13 for exhaustpurposes. Annular orifice 14 is of a slightly smaller diameter thanopening 21 but the columns of air emanating from orifice 14 will tend tospread and impinge upon the edge of opening 21. The impinging of the airon this edge, in the well-known manner, will produce a multiplefrequency edgetone or ringtone. The oscillation of the annular column ofair back and forth across the end of opening 21 will cause the column ofair in a resonating cavity 20 to vibrate, the frequency of thatvibration being determined by the depth of cavity 20. The vibration incavity 20 will cause increases and decreases in pressure in the cavitywhich in turn will cause a diaphragm 23 to pulsate inwardly andoutwardly. The vibrations of diaphragm 23 are transmitted to an armaturein the form of a vibrating reed by means of a rod 24 attached to thediaphragm at one end and to the armature 25 at its other end. The freeend of metallic reed armature 25 is centrally located in a magnetic coil26 between two permanent magnet pole pieces of opposite polarity 3t) and32.

The pulsations of diaphragm 23 causes the armature 25 to oscillatebetween magnetic pole pieces 30 and 32 which in turn will induce anelectromotive force in coil 26; this emf can then be coupled to anexternal circuit through wires 34.

The electrical output from wires 34 can be independently switched ON andOFF in the following manner. Conduit 16 is encased near its midsectionby a ring conduit 18 that receives control fluid from an independentsource through a control nozzle 17 and exhausts this control fluidthrough apertures 19 that circumscribe interaction chamber 22. Uponreceipt ofa fluidic signal in a port 15, control nozzle 17 will directthrough ring conduit 18 and apertures 19 said fluidic signal which willdisturb the annular column emanating from annular orifice 14 ininteraction chamber 22. This disturbance will prevent the annular columnof air from impinging upon the edge of opening 21. This will in turncause the oscillations in resonating cavity 20 to cease, thusterminating the generation of electrical energy at wires 34. Thiscorresponds to an OFF condition of the switch. Upon the removal of thefluid signal from control nozzle 17, the annular column will proceedundisturbed through interaction chamber 22 as before, and thus thedevice will switch to an ON condition, provided there still exists thefluid power entering port 10. It is thus seen that control nozzle 17,ring conduit 18, and apertures 19 provide means for independent fluidiccontrol of the electrical power output of the device.

One example of a system in which the fluidic-electric switch of FIG. 1would find useful application is illus trated in schematic form in FIG.2 which depicts a fluidic safety, arming and detonating system for usein a weapon-carrying missile or rocket. The circuitry indicatedgenerally at 52 is shown as being positioned outside a weapon-carryingmissile 54. It is to be understood that normally the circuitry 52 ispositioned within the missile 54 but is as shown in FIG. 2 forillustrative purposes only.

The circuitry indicated at 52 is responsive solely to two environmentalsignatures which occur during the normal deployment of the missile 54.Until such time as the missile 54 is put in actual flight, the fluidiccircuitry 52 remains totally inoperative and can in no way initiate anaccidental firing. The first of the two environmental signatures occursat ignition of the missile during which some of the gases fromcombustion are collected into a stagnation chamber 58 by means of apneumatic diode 56 and a conduit 55 which is appropriately placed inmissile 54 to receive the combustion gases. Pneumatic diode 56 permitsone-way flow only of the gases into chamber 58, which is an enclosedvolume designed to increase the static pressure of the fluid at theexpense of the fluid velocity in a manner well known in the art. The gasfrom stagnation chamber 58 flows through conduits 60 and 80 into twopressure regulators 62 and 82 respectively, which maintain the level offlow necessary to operate the remaining fluidic devices.

The output from pressure regulator 62 provides supply fluid for thepower nozzles (not shown) of a biased fluid amplifier 40 and a fluidbuffer amplifier 42 by way of conduits 64 and 66 respectively. Amplifier40 is biased to discharge from conduit 70 in the absence of a fluidsignal from control conduit '75, this self-bias being schematicallyrepresented by channel 68. The fluid output from conduit 76 is thenutilized as the left control jet "711 of buffer amplifier 42. Leftcontrol jet '71 in the well known manner causes the power nozzle supplyfluid from conduit 66 to entrain along the right output channel 69 ofbuffer amplifier 42 and exhaust through conduit 72. This fluidic signalin conduit 72 is fed to fluidic binary counters 44 and 45 and acts toreset both counters to their ground states.

The output from pressure regulator 82 provides supply fluid to conduits84 and 86 which feed the power nozzles (not shown) of a biased fluidamplifier 41 and a buffer fluid amplifier 43, whose actions are similarto and simultaneous with the actions of biased fluid amplifier 40 andbuffer amplifier 42. In the absence ofa fluid signal from controlconduit 95, amplifier 41 is biased by channel 88 to exhaust throughconduit 96 which is then connected to serve as the left control jet 91of buffer amplifier 43. Left control jet 91 in turn causes the powernozzle supply fluid from conduit 86 to dis charge through output conduit92 to ambient. Thus, the action of the first environmental signature atignition is to reset the fluidic binary counters 44 and 45 to theirground states and to prepare the remaining fluidic circuits for thesecond signature which occurs shortly after lift-off.

After lift-off, ram air enters the fluidic safety, arming and detonatingsystem of FIG. 2 through conduit '74, appropriately placed in themissile to receive said ram air. This fluid signal provided by the ramair in conduit 74 is fed into control conduit in biased amplifier 40,causing the power nozzle supply fluid fed by conduit 64 to be deflectedand exhaust through conduit 76, which is then utilized as the rightcontrol jet 77 of buffer amplifier 42. The right control jet 77 in turncauses the power nozzle supply fluid from conduit 66 to entrain upon theleft output channel 67 of buffer amplifier 42 and exhaust throughconduit 78. The fluid signal from conduit 78, which is present onlyafter the missile has lifted off the launching means, serves to arm themissile in the following manner.

A portion of the fluid from conduit 78 is fed by conduit 162 to activatefluid oscillators 46 and 47 which provide a time base for fluid binarycounters 44 and 45 respectively. Simultaneously, conduit 78 suppliesfluid signals to fluid binary counters 44 and 45 by way of conduits 104and 106 respectively. Said counters are turned ON by said fluid signalsand are preset to run for time periods t and 13 respectively, where I isgreater than 1 The time periods of counters 44 and 45 are preset byadjusting the frequency of oscillation of the oscillators 46 and 47 andthe number of stages in counters 44 and 45.

At the end of time period t counter 44 emits a fluid signal throughconduit 110 which turns OFF oscillator 46 by means of line 112 and alsoprovides a control signal to biased amplifier 41 through conduit 114that feeds a control conduit 95. In a similar manner as heretoforedescribed with respect to amplifiers 40 and 42, biased amplifier 41 uponreceipt of fluid control signal in conduit 95 now exhausts throughconduit 96 that becomes right control jet 97 in buffer amplifier 43.Receipt of a fluid signal in right control jet 97 causes the supplyfluid from conduit 86 to switch its output path from conduit 92 toconduit 98. Conduit 98 in turn provides a supply fluid to theafore-described fluidicelectric switch 50 which transforms the pneumaticenergy in the form of a fluidic stream in conduit 98 to an electricalenergy output along wires 34. Wires 34 are connected to an electronicfiring circuit 48 and are arranged so as to charge up a firing capacitor(not shown). Thus, the ram air of the missile, at a safe time t afterthe missile has been launched, has enabled the fluidic circuitry of FIG.2 to arm the missile and prepare it for firing.

At the end of preset time period t counter 45 releases a fluid signal byway of conduit 116 that turns OFF oscillator 47 by way of line 118 andalso provides a fluid control signal to the fluidic-electric switch 50by way of conduit 120. Conduit 120 feeds directly into the controlnozzle 17 of the fluidic-electric switch 50. As heretofore explained,the receipt of this signal by control nozzle 17 causes thefluidic-electric switch 50 to cease generating electrical energy. Thisin turn triggers the firing capacitor in firing circuit 48 to releaseits stored energy in such a fashion as to detonate the firing element,shown as a squib 49, which initiates the firing of the explosive carriedby the missile.

The construction and use of many of the fluidic devices and conceptspresented herein are well known to those persons skilled in the art. Forexample, a preferred embodiment of the firing circuit 48 which can beutilized in the prescribed manner can be found at 103 of FIG. 2 in U. S.application Ser. No. 684,602 filed Nov. 16, 1967 by Carl J. Campagnuoloet al., entitled Fluidic Arming System." Additionally, it is desirablethat the frequencies of fluid oscillators 46 and 47 be made insensitiveto both pressure and temperature changes due to the inherentfluctuations of those parameters in the exhaust gases of the missile. Anappropriate embodiment of such an oscillator is disclosed in U. S.application Ser. No. 595,538 filed Nov. 18, 1966 by Carl J. Campagnuoloet al. for a Pressure and Temperature lnsensitive System.

Oscillators 46 and 47 are switched OFF at the end of time periods t, andt respectively, to insure that the fluid flow from counters 44 and 45 iscontinued at the level and rate necessary to maintain the output ofbuffer amplifier 43 at conduit 98 after time period 1,, and to insurethat the fluidic-electric switch 50 remains inoperative after timeperiod t,.

Time period t, of counter 44 would be set to correspond to the desiredtime delay between missile lift-off and arming; time period t would beselected to be the delay between lift-off and detonation; time interval2 t, would yield the fluidic-electric switch ON time t,,, givenmathematically by quency of oscillator 46. Hence once the basicfrequency for each oscillator has been chosen, any desired t and t canbe obtained by adjusting the number of stages in the counters.

[t can be readily seen that the system as heretofore described, whenadapted to a missile or projectile, is fail-safe, because its actuationis dependent on a successful launch and take-off of the vehicle.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

l claim as my invention:

1. In a weapon carrying missile, a fluidic safety, arming, anddetonating system, comprising:

a. an electrical circuit including a normally deenergized electricallyoperated fuze firing element;

b. a pressure activated means for arming said electrical circuit anddetonating said fuze firing element;

0. a means associated with said missile for receiving a plurality offluid signals; and

d. a fluid circuit means for activating and deactivating saidpressure-activated means at the end of first and second time intervals,respectively, in response to and at predetermined times after thecoincidental receipt of said plurality of fluid signals, said fluidcircuit means including a first and second delay means, each having nomoving parts, for determining the lengths of the said first and secondtime intervals.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said pressure activatedmeans comprises a fluidic-electric switch responsive to a first fluidsignal and to a second fluid signal wherefrom electrical energy isprovided to said electrical circuit upon the sole application of saidfirst fluid signal and wherefrom said electrical energy ceases upon theconcurrent application of said second fluid signal.

3. The invention according to claim 1 in which said first and seconddelay means are comprised of first and second fluidic timing circuits,respectively.

4. The invention according to claim 3 in which said first fluidic timingcircuit comprises a fluidic binary counter, means for resetting toground state said counter upon the application of one of said pluralityof fluid signals to said system, a fluidic oscillator providing a signalto be counted by said binary counter upon the application of another ofsaid plurality of signals, and an output conduit through which isdelivered an output signal upon the completion of said first timeinterval.

5. The invention according to claim 3 in which said second fluidictiming circuit comprises a fluidic binary counter, means for resettingto ground state said counter upon the application of one of saidplurality of fluid signals to said system, a fluidic oscillatorproviding a signal to be counted by said binary counter upon theapplication of another of said plurality of signals, and an outputconduit through which is delivered an output signal upon the completionof said second time interval.

6. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of fluidsignals comprises a portion of the exhaust gases of said missile and ramair.

7. A safety, arming and detonating system for use in a weapon-carryingmissile or the like, comprising:

a. means for receiving a portion of the exhaust gases of said missile;

b. means for transforming said portion of exhaust gases into first andsecond streams of supply fluid;

0. means for receiving ram air;

d. first fluid amplifier means supplied with a source of power fluidcomprising control means in communication with said means for receivingram air,

first and second output conduits, and means to direct said power fluidout said first output conduit in the absence of ram air and out saidsecond output conduit upon the application of ram air to the system; e.first and second fluidic oscillators each of which has an input conduitconnected to said second output conduit of said first fluid amplifiermeans so that said oscillators are rendered operative only when ram airis applied to said first fluid amplifier means; a first fluidic binarycounter comprising a first input conduit connected to an output of saidfirst fluidic oscillator for detecting the oscillations of saidoscillator, a second input conduit in communication with said secondoutput conduit of said first fluid amplifier means such that said firstcounter begins counting said oscillations only upon receipt of a fluidsignal from said second output conduit, and an output conduit that emitsa fluid control signal after the detection of a predetermined number ofsaid oscillations corresponding to a first time interval;

g. a second fluidic binary counter comprising a first input conduitconnected to an output of said second fluidic oscillator for detectingthe oscillations of said oscillator, a second input conduit incommunication with said second output conduit of said first fluidamplifier means such that said second counter begins counting saidoscillations only upon receipt of a fluid signal from said second outputconduit, and an output conduit that emits a fluid control signal afterthe detection of a predetermined number of said oscillationscorresponding to a second time interval;

h. second fluid amplifier means supplied with a source of power fluidcomprising control means adapted to receive said fluid control signal ofsaid first fluidic binary counter, first and second output conduits, andmeans to direct said power fluid through said second output conduit onlyafter said first time interval has elapsed;

i. a fluidic-electric switch comprising transducer means to produce anelectrical energy output in response to a fluid signal input from saidsecond output conduit of said second fluid amplifier means, andswitching means responsive to said fluid control signal from said secondfluidic binary counter, whereupon the receipt of said fluid controlsignal will act to terminate the generation of electrical energytherefrom only after said second time interval has elapsed;

j. an electrical circuit comprising a normally deenergized electricallyoperated fuze firing element, means to arm said circuit in response tothe activation of said fluidic-electric switch, means to energize saidfuze firing element in response to the deactivation of saidfluidic-electric switch.

8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said exhaust gas receivingmeans comprises a stagnation chamber, a receiving conduit and apneumatic diode located therebetween to allow unidirectional flow ofsaid exhaust gases into said stagnation chamber.

9. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said means fortransforming said portion of exhaust gases comprises a pair of pressureregulators each fed by output conduit of said receiving means wherebyportions of said exhaust gases are transformed into said first andsecond streams of supply fluid at a predetermined pressure level andflow.

10. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said sources of powerfluid for said first and second fluid amplifier means comprises saidfirst and second streams of supply fluid, respectively.

11. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said first fluidamplifier means comprises:

a. a first self-biased amplifier adapted to receive said power fluid,comprising a control conduit in communication with said means forreceiving ram air to serve as said control means, first and secondoutput conduits, and self-biasing means to direct said power fluid outsaid first conduit in the absence of ram air and out said second outputconduit upon the application of ram air to the system; and

b. a first buffer amplifier adapted to receive power fluid comprisingfirst and second control conduits and first and second output conduits,said first control conduit in communication with said first outputconduit of said first selfbiased fluid amplifier and said second controlconduit in communication with said second output conduit of said firstselfbiased fluid amplifier, whereby said control conduits act on saidpower fluid in such a manner as to direct said power fluid out saidfirst output conduit of said first buffer amplifier in the presence of afluid signal in said first control conduit and out said second outputconduit of said first buffer amplifier in the presence of a fluid signalin said second control conduit.

12. The invention according to claim 11 wherein said power fluid of saidfirst self-biased fluid amplifier and of said first buffer amplifiercomprises portions of said first stream of supply fluid.

13. The invention according to claim 7 further comprising means forterminating the oscillations of said first fluidic oscillator at the endof said first time interval.

14. The invention according to claim 13 wherein said means forterminating oscillations comprises a conduit that communicates a portionof said fluid control signal from said first fluidic binary counter tosaid first fluidic oscillator.

15. The invention according to claim 7 further comprising means forterminating the oscillations of said second fluidic oscillator at theend of said second time interval.

16. The invention according to claim 15 wherein said means forterminating oscillations comprises a conduit that communicates a portionof said fluid control signal from said second fluidic binary counter tosaid second fluidic oscillator.

17. The invention according to claim 7 further comprising means forresetting said first and second fluidic binary counters to their groundstates.

18. The invention according to claim 17 wherein said resetting meanscomprises a conduit connecting said first output conduit of said firstfluid amplifier means with an input to each of said first and secondfluidic binary counters whereupon the application of the said exhaustgases to the system will cause said counters to reset.

19. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said second fluidamplifier means comprises:

a. a second self-biased fluid amplifier adapted to receive said powerfluid, comprising a control conduit in communication with said outputconduit of said first fluidic binary counter, first and second outputconduits, and self-biasing means to direct said power fluid out saidfirst output conduit in the absence of said control signal from saidfirst (fluidic binary) counter and out said second output conduit uponthe application of said control signal from said first (fluidic binary)counter;

. a second buffer amplifier adapted to receive power fluid comprisingfirst and second control conduits and first and second output conduits,said first control conduit in communication with said first outputconduit of said second self-biased fluid amplifier and said secondcontrol conduit in communication with said second output of said secondselfbiased fluid amplifier, whereby said control conduits act on saidpower fluid in such a manner as to direct said power fluid out saidfirst output conduit of said second buffer amplifier in the presence ofa fluid signal in said first control conduit and out said second outputconduit of said second buffer amplifier in the presence of a fluidsignal in said second control conduit.

20. The invention according to claim 19 wherein said power fluid of saidsecond self-biased fluid amplifier and of said second buffer amplifiercomprises portions of said second stream of supply fluid.

21. The invention according to claim 19 wherein said first outputconduit of said second buffer amplifier exhausts to ambient.

22. The invention according to claim '7 wherein said transducer means ofsaid fluidic-electric switch comprises:

a. an input conduit that receives said fluid signal from said secondoutput conduit of said second fluid amplifier means;

b. a cylindrical plug centrally located within said input conduit so asto form an annular orifice for transforming said fluid signal into anannular col umn of fluid;

c. an interaction chamber located to receive said annular column offluid and transmit it so as to impinge upon the edge of the opening to aresonating cavity to produce a multiple frequency edgetone or ringtonewhich acts to set up oscillations of the fluid Within said resonatingcavity;

d. a diaphragm forming the closed end of said resonating cavity adaptedto pulsate inwardly and outwardly in response to said fluidoscillations;

e. a metallic reed connected to said diaphragm and located between thepole pieces of a permanent magnet and adapted so as to vibratetherebetween in response to said pulsations of said diaphragm;

f. wires connected to said magnet adapted to receive and transmit theelectromotive force generated in response to said vibrations of saidreed.

23. The invention according to claim 22 wherein said switching means ofsaid fluidic-electric switch comprises a control nozzle which connectssaid output conduit of said second fluidic binary counter with saidinteraction chamber of said transducer means whereupon the reception ofsaid fluid control signal will cause a disturbance in said annularcolumn of fluid in said interaction chamber so as to prevent saidoscillations of said fluid from occurring and terminate the generationof electrical energy upon the conclusion of said second time interval.

1. In a weapon carrying missile, a fluidic safety, arming, anddetonating system, comprising: a. an electrical circuit including anormally de-energized electrically operated fuze firing element; b. apressure activated means for arming said electrical circuit anddetonating said fuze firing element; c. a means associated with saidmissile for receiving a plurality of fluid signals; and d. a fluidcircuit means for activating and deactivating said pressure-activatedmeans at the end of first and second time intervals, respectively, inresponse to and at predetermined times after the coincidental receipt ofsaid plurality of fluid signals, said fluid circuit means including afirst and second delay means, each having no moving parts, fordetermining the lengths of the said first and second time intervals. 2.The invention according to claim 1 wherein said pressure activated meanscomprises a fluidic-electric switch responsive to a first fluid signaland to a second fluid signal wherefrom electrical energy is provided tosaid electrical circuit upon the sole application of said first fluidsignal and wherefrom said electrical energy ceases upon the concurrentapplication of said second fluid signal.
 3. The invention according toclaim 1 in which said first and second delay means are comprised offirst and second fluidic timing circuits, respectively.
 4. The inventionaccording to claim 3 in which said first fluidic timing circuitcomprises a fluidic binary counter, means for resetting to ground statesaid counter upon the application of one of said plurality of fluidsignals to said system, a fluidic oscillator providing a signal to becounted by said binary counter upon the application of another of saidplurality of signals, and an output conduit through which is deliveredan output signal upon the completion of said first time interval.
 5. Theinvention according to claim 3 in which said second fluidic timingcircuit comprises a fluidic binary counter, means for resetting toground state said counter upon the application of one of said pluralityof fluid signals to said system, a fluidic oscillator providing a signalto be counted by said binary counter upon the application of another ofsaid plurality of signals, and an output conduit through which isdelivered an output signal upon the completion of said second timeinterval.
 6. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said pluralityof fluid signals comprises a portion of the exhaust gases of saidmissile and ram air.
 7. A safety, arming and detonating system for usein a weapon-carrying missile or the like, comprising: a. means forreceiving a portion of the exhaust gases of said missile; b. means fortransforming said portion of exhaust gases into first and second streamsof supply fluid; c. means for receiving ram air; d. first fluidamplifier means supplied with a source of power fluid comprising controlmeans in communication with said means for receiving ram air, first andsecond output conduits, and means to direct said power fluid out saidfirst output conduit in the absence of ram air and out said secondoutput conduit upon the application of ram air to the system; e. firstand second fluidic oscillators each of which has an input conduitconnected to said second output conduit of said first fluid amplifiermeans so that said oscillators are rendered operative only when ram airis applied to said first fluid amplifier means; f. a first fluidicbinary counter comprising a first input conduit connected to an outputof said first fluidic oscillator for detecting the oscillations of saidoscillator, a second input conduit in communication with said secondoutput conduit of said first fluid amplifier means such that said firstcounter begins counting said oscillations only upon receipt of a fluidsignal from said second output conduit, and an output conduit that emitsa fluid control signal after the detection of a predetermined number ofsaid oscillations corresponding to a first time interval; g. a secondfluidic binary counter comprising a first input conduit connected to anoutput of said second fluidic oscillator for detecting the oscillationsof said oscillator, a second input conduit in communication with saidsecond output conduit of said first fluid amplifier means such that saidsecond counter begins counting said oscillations only upon receipt of afluid signal from said second output conduit, and an output conduit thatemits a fluid control signal after the detection of a predeterminednumber of said oscillations corresponding to a second time interval; h.second fluid amplifier means supplied with a source of power fluidcomprising control means adapted to receive said fluid control signal ofsaid first fluidic binary counter, first and second output conduits, andmeans to direct said power fLuid through said second output conduit onlyafter said first time interval has elapsed; i. a fluidic-electric switchcomprising transducer means to produce an electrical energy output inresponse to a fluid signal input from said second output conduit of saidsecond fluid amplifier means, and switching means responsive to saidfluid control signal from said second fluidic binary counter, whereuponthe receipt of said fluid control signal will act to terminate thegeneration of electrical energy therefrom only after said second timeinterval has elapsed; j. an electrical circuit comprising a normallydeenergized electrically operated fuze firing element, means to arm saidcircuit in response to the activation of said fluidic-electric switch,means to energize said fuze firing element in response to thedeactivation of said fluidic-electric switch.
 8. The invention accordingto claim 7 wherein said exhaust gas receiving means comprises astagnation chamber, a receiving conduit and a pneumatic diode locatedtherebetween to allow unidirectional flow of said exhaust gases intosaid stagnation chamber.
 9. The invention according to claim 7 whereinsaid means for transforming said portion of exhaust gases comprises apair of pressure regulators each fed by output conduit of said receivingmeans whereby portions of said exhaust gases are transformed into saidfirst and second streams of supply fluid at a predetermined pressurelevel and flow.
 10. The invention according to claim 7 wherein saidsources of power fluid for said first and second fluid amplifier meanscomprises said first and second streams of supply fluid, respectively.11. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said first fluidamplifier means comprises: a. a first self-biased amplifier adapted toreceive said power fluid, comprising a control conduit in communicationwith said means for receiving ram air to serve as said control means,first and second output conduits, and self-biasing means to direct saidpower fluid out said first conduit in the absence of ram air and outsaid second output conduit upon the application of ram air to thesystem; and b. a first buffer amplifier adapted to receive power fluidcomprising first and second control conduits and first and second outputconduits, said first control conduit in communication with said firstoutput conduit of said first self-biased fluid amplifier and said secondcontrol conduit in communication with said second output conduit of saidfirst self-biased fluid amplifier, whereby said control conduits act onsaid power fluid in such a manner as to direct said power fluid out saidfirst output conduit of said first buffer amplifier in the presence of afluid signal in said first control conduit and out said second outputconduit of said first buffer amplifier in the presence of a fluid signalin said second control conduit.
 12. The invention according to claim 11wherein said power fluid of said first self-biased fluid amplifier andof said first buffer amplifier comprises portions of said first streamof supply fluid.
 13. The invention according to claim 7 furthercomprising means for terminating the oscillations of said first fluidicoscillator at the end of said first time interval.
 14. The inventionaccording to claim 13 wherein said means for terminating oscillationscomprises a conduit that communicates a portion of said fluid controlsignal from said first fluidic binary counter to said first fluidicoscillator.
 15. The invention according to claim 7 further comprisingmeans for terminating the oscillations of said second fluidic oscillatorat the end of said second time interval.
 16. The invention according toclaim 15 wherein said means for terminating oscillations comprises aconduit that communicates a portion of said fluid control signal fromsaid second fluidic binary counter to said second fluidic oscillator.17. The invention according to claim 7 further comprising means forresetting said first And second fluidic binary counters to their groundstates.
 18. The invention according to claim 17 wherein said resettingmeans comprises a conduit connecting said first output conduit of saidfirst fluid amplifier means with an input to each of said first andsecond fluidic binary counters whereupon the application of the saidexhaust gases to the system will cause said counters to reset.
 19. Theinvention according to claim 7 wherein said second fluid amplifier meanscomprises: a. a second self-biased fluid amplifier adapted to receivesaid power fluid, comprising a control conduit in communication withsaid output conduit of said first fluidic binary counter, first andsecond output conduits, and self-biasing means to direct said powerfluid out said first output conduit in the absence of said controlsignal from said first (fluidic binary) counter and out said secondoutput conduit upon the application of said control signal from saidfirst (fluidic binary) counter; b. a second buffer amplifier adapted toreceive power fluid comprising first and second control conduits andfirst and second output conduits, said first control conduit incommunication with said first output conduit of said second self-biasedfluid amplifier and said second control conduit in communication withsaid second output of said second self-biased fluid amplifier, wherebysaid control conduits act on said power fluid in such a manner as todirect said power fluid out said first output conduit of said secondbuffer amplifier in the presence of a fluid signal in said first controlconduit and out said second output conduit of said second bufferamplifier in the presence of a fluid signal in said second controlconduit.
 20. The invention according to claim 19 wherein said powerfluid of said second self-biased fluid amplifier and of said secondbuffer amplifier comprises portions of said second stream of supplyfluid.
 21. The invention according to claim 19 wherein said first outputconduit of said second buffer amplifier exhausts to ambient.
 22. Theinvention according to claim 7 wherein said transducer means of saidfluidic-electric switch comprises: a. an input conduit that receivessaid fluid signal from said second output conduit of said second fluidamplifier means; b. a cylindrical plug centrally located within saidinput conduit so as to form an annular orifice for transforming saidfluid signal into an annular column of fluid; c. an interaction chamberlocated to receive said annular column of fluid and transmit it so as toimpinge upon the edge of the opening to a resonating cavity to produce amultiple frequency edgetone or ringtone which acts to set uposcillations of the fluid within said resonating cavity; d. a diaphragmforming the closed end of said resonating cavity adapted to pulsateinwardly and outwardly in response to said fluid oscillations; e. ametallic reed connected to said diaphragm and located between the polepieces of a permanent magnet and adapted so as to vibrate therebetweenin response to said pulsations of said diaphragm; f. wires connected tosaid magnet adapted to receive and transmit the electromotive forcegenerated in response to said vibrations of said reed.
 23. The inventionaccording to claim 22 wherein said switching means of saidfluidic-electric switch comprises a control nozzle which connects saidoutput conduit of said second fluidic binary counter with saidinteraction chamber of said transducer means whereupon the reception ofsaid fluid control signal will cause a disturbance in said annularcolumn of fluid in said interaction chamber so as to prevent saidoscillations of said fluid from occurring and terminate the generationof electrical energy upon the conclusion of said second time interval.